16 Going On 17

The messages on social media - especially WhatsApp have been pouring in much faster that I've been able to process them since early in the day yesterday. But for the musical mind in me - this picture actually got my attention...

That picture took me straight back to The Sound Of Music to the Von Trapp garden with Liesl and Rolf. (Charmain Carr who played Liesl in the movie was 16 going on 17 in the movie, but did not make it with us to 2017).

Which other songs do you know with the number 17?...

The first song I can think of is the 'Rock n Roll' favorite by the Beatles which forms an integral part of the Jive set I used to sing in the band... I Saw Her Standing There (Just Seventeen) by the Beatles - performed by an all musical starcast here...

Seventeen is an interesting age... I have my fair share of them being part of the Confirmation Catechesis team at the parish... the group includes really talented youth waiting to make their mark wherever they go... I sincerely wish them all the very best in this year 2017.

Also wishing all the readers and listeners of this blog post a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017... While this year has been dedicated by the UN as the International Year for Sustainable Tourism For Development, I extend the invitation to make a little contribution to this effort...

HAVE A WONDERFUL 

DAY 

MONTH 

YEAR 2017

Rewind 2016

We're on the last day of the year... And possibly the best time to look back at the year that's been... 2016.

The year started with the wish - Happy New Year - and a truly happy one it has been.... on the family front, on the professional one and even with the hobbies. 

On the family front first - completed 15 years of marriage just yesterday - celebrating Crystal Anniv with Kristel.... 10 more to Silver. My son is a teenager this year and making the most of every opportunity that he gets - at school, in sport and with music - Into The Teens. My younger son as well at 7 is stepping into a new phase of confidence and taking the lead in stepping forward with initiative. Annual Days and Fun Fairs - Keeping the Music Alive.

On the professional front I settled into a new role at the restructured Publicis Media in the current role as part of the Digital Ad Operations and the Trading Desk at the agency. Made further forays into education having delivered courses and industry interaction sessions to Full-time, Part-time and Executive MBA students at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) and Vivekanand Education Society's Institute of Management and Research (VESIM) in CRM and Digital Marketing. My role as a educator was helped to a large extent by the Forum for Marketing Education that saw the light of day this year and conducted four workshops to help Marketing Educators like myself grow in the role.
Thanks to this Forum, I got the opportunity to reconnect with one of my first bosses in the world of communication - Dr. Ambi Parameswaran - and enjoyed reading his book, Nawabs, Nudes and Noodles, that reignited wonderful advertising memories from childhood to recent times.

I've had a good run through the year entertaining as Sunil Pinto Entertains having compered a host of Weddings and Silver Weddings this year... Also did a couple of Dance Concerts and some interesting events showcasing the talent of children and youth even down to our parish. 

My Facebook Page - Sunil Pinto Entertains - has hosted videos, pics and comments from the various events I've been part of. The page has also been a single point to share my love of music with wonderful readers from around the world. Also a great digital tool has been this blog - A Musical Twist To Life - that's near to 13000 pageviews with this being the 185th post (130th for the year - with more than 2 posts a week).

Thanks to your support, the following posts on as diverse topics as Dance styles, Animals and Travel topped the views this year...

TWIST

Woof, Meoow, Neigh.... Talk To The Animals

Around The World In 14 Songs

A couple of days ago, I was having a conversation with my seven-year old son, who asked me... "Dad, you wrote posts on your blog to count down to Christmas...5 days, 4 days, 3 days and 2 days... but no post on one day and on Christmas day itself... Why? The two boys were sitting at the PC earlier today and bookmarked this video to share on this post.

In a couple of hours from now, we as a family head to Church to thank the Lord for the blessings of 2016 and to seek continued favour into the New Year... Yes, I need the grace of the Almighty to Light It Up in 2017... And wish each of my relatives, friends and acquaintances, LOTS AND LOTS OF LOVE in the NEW YEAR. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017

P.S. This post would be incomplete without this...